Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Modern Lolz

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  • Lyndon Hood,

    How about moving out the back staff onto the front line dole queue?

    I just adapted that into a Scoop headline.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Oh, go on, you know you want to link us...

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Brent Jackson,

    I'd second the Topp Twins movie recommendation.

    Because it documents them through their songs, which often have political/protest messages in them, it is a great overview of the big issues in New Zealand in the last quarter of the last century. The cinematography and directing was really good as well, blending the archive footage with current interviews.

    Oh, and it also contains a few LOLs as well.

    Cheers,
    Brent.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And may I mention the Topp Twins here? And recommend their fillum?

    Sure you can, and I'm going to wait until it (inevitably) ends up on television. Sorry, but its like going through the film festival program and making an educated guess what going to be back, and what you're never going to see again.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    I went and saw Maeve Higgins at Bats and she was awesome. A bit awkward at the start when she did some stuff that the majority of the audience had seen on TV a couple of nights previously, but once past that she really flew.
    Having done some stand-up I can say that the hard thing is the lack of audience. I used to be part of regular Sunday night gig at the old Bodega, and the problem was that you generally saw the same peope in the crowd. So you constantly felt like you had to have some new material every week so you didn't get the chance to really hone the stuff you had. That's where songs were useful - people don't seem to mind hearing the same song more than once.
    Unfortunately I'm goign to miss Ben Hurley this time around but if you get the chance go and see him. Not only is he fantastic but he works incredibly hard not just on his own stuff but on helping other comedians, so he is well worthy of your support.
    Also, seeing other people mentioned Theatreview, I'd be remiss not to link to this review but I am biased!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    Simon Sweetman is an embarrassment to proper reviewers.

    That has tended to be my view.

    He is mediocre critic and reviewer. Remember, this is a man who once described Tears For Fears as "one of the best bands of the '80s" in one of his North & South columns.

    He also endorses shite like Dire Straits, the Eagles and their ilk.

    He also has a far too common tendency, when reviewing an album, to lazily say "it sounds like band X crossed with band Y", which tells me nothing about the actual quality of an album.

    I realise I'm shooting fish in a barrel here, but anyway...

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    I went and saw Dylan moran on Saturday night. He is on the cutting edge of comedy, and a very funny man. I thought whilst fresh and funny he wasn't properly prepared for a New Zealand audience and several of his jokes - easily modified for local consumption if he had done his homework - fell flat. Which only goes to show even the very best can struggle to get it right for the full show.

    I went on Sunday night. I think he might have done his homework by then. He was spot on.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    He is mediocre critic and reviewer.

    Often, yes but at least he's not afraid to go against the swell sometimes even if you want to slap him. His taste tends to veer towards the mainstream and what I'd consider the very mediocre but in that he does speak for a mass of buyers.

    I'm more offended by how he says it rather than what he says..it's more suited to a space on blogger or wordpress where anyone, myself included, can burble on to our heart's content and make wild swings.

    That said, I can't disagree with his take on Conchords. They didn't raise a smile with me...I just didn't get it, although I understood what I was supposed to get. And I've found it's not a smart thing to say in NZ unless you want to get verbally hammered.

    But what would I know..I didn't get Seinfeld either

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    That said, I can't disagree with his take on Conchords. They didn't raise a smile with me...

    And I find Bro'Town about as amusing as a caustic soda douche, but didn't the hype machine crank up for "The. Last. Series. Ever...ever...ever.."

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Kim Sokolich,

    Oh my, I agree with Craig! Bro'Town I just don't get.

    Has anyone seen Wilson Dixon? I didn't even know he was a local until I googled him. His 5 or 10 minutes at the Gala were hilarious. I'm very happy that the dry sense of humour that many Kiwis have is now reflected in some of our comedians.

    And I have to agree with Grant's 'fish in a barrel' comment about Sweetman.

    Since Oct 2008 • 47 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    I'm not going to ask how Craig knows about caustic douches, but I do find Diplomatic Immunity way funnier than Brotown.

    And I found the Wilson Dixon character hilarious both years that I've seen him on the televised opening Gala thingy. Interview from Nightline here with link to video at top.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kim Sokolich,

    Stuart, if you are still there. I have to ask about a random (maybe not that random) quote you posted - 'Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobodys business but the Turks'.
    I had just been playing their CD in my car when I read that. I didn't think many people in NZ would know their stuff.
    Can I continue with 'Even old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why they changed it I can't say - maybe they just liked it better that way.'
    What supreme lyricists TMBGs are and what good taste you have!

    Since Oct 2008 • 47 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    That said, I can't disagree with his take on Conchords. They didn't raise a smile with me...I just didn't get it, although I understood what I was supposed to get. And I've found it's not a smart thing to say in NZ unless you want to get verbally hammered.

    You didn't like Ep 5 Season 2?

    The one directed by Michel Gondry?

    When Jemaine slept with an Australian?

    And they did 'Too Many Dicks on the Dancefloor'?

    Bastard!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Kim Sokolich,

    Dammit!! That's the one episode I missed recording. Sounded like a classic.

    Since Oct 2008 • 47 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I'm not going to ask how Craig knows about caustic douches, but I do find Diplomatic Immunity way funnier than Brotown.

    Meh... even that doesn't really work for me. James Griffin gets a lot of slack in this fale for the magnificence that is Outrageous Fortune, but if you're trying to be "politically incorrect" you either have the testicular fortitude to push it all the way over the top, or leave it alone. Family Guy is not to all tastes (certainly not mine), but at least it has the courage of its infantile nastiness.

    Then again, comedy is a horribly subjective thing. Huge fan of Alan Bennett, who (IMNSHO) is painfully funny but not one of life's little joy germs, but I quite literally find The Office and Fawlty Towers painful to watch.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Alan Perrott,

    Kim, Kim, Kim...really.

    The track you're talking about was originally released by The Four Lads circa late 50s.

    Right, as you were...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Craig, American Dad pushes it further than Family Guy . You like?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig, American Dad pushes it further than Family Guy. You like?

    Can't stomach either show, but I've got the funny feeling its no more made for me than the uber creepy Twilight franchise. Millions of girls are in love with an undead, emo glitterball. We're doomed.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I think the Conchords would be improved if they ditched Murray and the whole NZ consulate thing, which detracts from the subtlety of Brett and Jermaine (and the whole 63 goldfish thing). They draw on the two essentials of classic narrative: The Odd Couple + Fish Out of Water. Murray is just an irritating twit.

    Simon: you don 't get Seinfeld? Oh, dear!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Not comedy, Craig, but now you've got me thinking of True Blood . Find any favour?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Millions of girls are in love with an undead, emo glitterball. We're doomed.

    I knew there was a reason we kept you around, Craig. Just remember the whole thing is a repressed Mormon's metaphorical-sex fantasy, and you may come to terms with it. Or, you know. Not.

    On-topic, my partner and I have been watching Coupling, which I find terribly difficult to watch because it's hilariously brilliant (and nerdy) but all too often makes me cringe in embarrassment. It's a very fine line to walk, but it's done splendidly - and I say this because most embarrassment-comedy (The Office, etcetera) I find deeply unwatchable.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    @Kim
    Nice to find another fan. I have all the albums, which makes me a somewhat irrational geek when it comes to TMBG. But that particular song (*warning: true geekiness coming up) is actually an old 1950's song. And they used to do it all the time in the old british show Terry and June whenever they wanted to escape a situation. Still a brilliant band though!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Not comedy, Craig, but now you've got me thinking of True Blood.

    I second that. The love story of Sookie and Bill the Vampire are universes and generations distant from Twilight (which my 15 year old daughter despises). It is all blood, sex, mayhem, sex and, somewhere in there, truly fascinating ideas.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Millions of girls are in love with an undead, emo glitterball. We're doomed.

    Aargh; you’re not wrong there.

    OT, can anyone help in a debate I had with my daughter during a Twilight hangover.

    In the good old days, silver bullets killed vampires; right?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    Wow, I'm so slow. Well done Alan!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

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